On a day where Barack Obama receives the prestigious award of the Nobel Peace Prize, violence continues to show itself and it’s (unfortunately) intricate role in today’s society. In a recent interview with CNN, An-Jannette Albert, mother of Derrion Albert who was slain in Chicago, reacts to the unwarranted, unexplainable, and unbelievable death of her child.
Albert’s interview, which will tug on your heart and your emotions, is highly recommended watch. Albert is filled with emotion as her response to Derrion’s death is heartbreaking, raw, and most importantly, real. Albert serves up the type of in your face truth regarding the current generation, our lack of caring, and our inability in addressing the issue.
I truly believe the most honest words that Albert said were, “I’m scared.” And let’s be completely honest, a lot of us are. Without going down the road of sounding like an aging adult in this world, it is safe to say the conscious of this generation is absent, their restraint is almost non-existent, and the level and matter of discipline received from elders is obsolete.
The current generation has a minuscule respect for various things, and the adults of today are afraid to address it. We are afraid of their capabilities. We are afraid of their connections. We are afraid of situations described by Ms. Albert, and the events surrounding Derrion Albert’s death.
This all falls in the hands of us all. Not just parents, but adults and communities alike. Jeff Mays had a terrific follow up article, and an even better story regarding his wife’s disciplining of a child for littering in a building. Mays claimed the girl indeed picked up the wrapper, and apologized as well. “She knew what she did was wrong, she just needed a responsible adult to remind her”, Mays quipped.
And its the truth.
We’re just afraid…
Instead, we attempt to dance around disciplining the correct way, laugh at the young one who made an inappropriate statement and chalk it up as naive cuteness, and do what we can to be good cop, and become their friend.
As cliché, and somewhat lame as it may sound, some of the best lessons I’ve learned in my existence here on God’s green earth were from being yelled at, punished, and ultimately chastised for what were stupid, irrational, and unacceptable actions.
As our society continues to push free reign, it is important for us, as people, parents, communities, and a nation to step up, take back our streets, and help shape the next generation.
For this needs to end.
If there is anything I can draw on why Derrion had to die, it was to show us the reality of how much we are failing these kids and how much we are failing ourselves.
It’s time to step up. It’s time to stop being afraid.